The Kansas City Chiefs have been in desperate need of a serious head coach for about 6 years now... at least. I tend to believe that the best head coaches generally come from a defensive minded background. That's not to say that offensive minded coaches can't make good head coaches, I'm just saying that if I were tasked to try and find a new head coach for my football team, I'd start with coaches with a background on the defensive side of the ball.

I've done a quick search for coaches who I'd consider for the head coaching position for the Kansas City Chiefs. I did this same exercise back when they were looking to replace Peterson/Edwards and came up with my preference for Jim Schwartz or Rex Ryan. Instead, Pioli went with Haley and we all see where those two roads have led.

After researching these guys a little bit, I think I'd like to suggest an offensive coordinator and head coach for this football team. With any luck, they don't get bogged down with deep playoff runs that would prevent them from becoming candidates.

For offensive coordinator, I would prefer to bring on Bill Musgrave. The Offensive Coordinator in Minnesota has already helped groom Matt Ryan into a top tier QB in Atlanta and if the Chiefs continue on their current path, they're going to need someone who can groom Andrew Luck the same way.

At head coach, I want a 3-4 defensive-minded head coach. I want someone who's been a head coach before. I want someone with a recent history of success... I want Dom Capers, the Defensive Coordinator in Green Bay. You may remember Capers as the first head coach for the expansion Carolina Panthers and then again for the expansion Houston Texans. The same head coach with a 49-81 record in 9 years as a head coach.

But, this is also the same Dom Capers who won EVERY coaching award possible in '96. He has NEVER had a team with ANY talent and was still able to pull out 50 victories with 2 expansion teams over 9 seasons. He also recently took Green Bay's 21st ranked defense and turned them into a #2 defense in 2009, which carried the load for their Super Bowl team last season. Dom Capers runs a version of the 3-4, which is what the Chiefs have built their roster to run. He finally has the talent here in Kansas City to prove that he belongs as a head coach in this league.

I understand that Capers probably isn't a sexy pick to some people, but I believe his experience as a head coach and defensive coordinator along with his experience with rookie QBs will go a long way in helping Kansas City be successful. The only problem with hiring Capers could be a possible long run in the playoffs for the Green Bay Packers.

Here are the bios for some of the other candidates I've read up on.
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Brian VanGorder- http://www.atlantafalcons.com/roster-coaches/brian-van-gorder/

The 2010 Atlanta Falcons were fifth in the NFL in points allowed and seventh in turnovers.

The credit goes to Brian VanGorder.

A linebackers coach by trade, VanGorder can be thanked for the steady play of the Atlanta front seven over the past three seasons.

One name that consistently gets mentioned any time there is a head coaching vacancy is that of Mike Mularkey.

The former NFL player has experience as a head coach but is now the offensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons. He has also been in the running for top jobs in Detroit and Tennessee in recent years.

Mularkey's balanced offensive attack in Atlanta has caught the eye of many NFL owners. Barring a deep playoff run in 2011, Mularkey will be among the short-list of the best available coordinators for every job opening.

Russ Grimm has a resume that should attract every owner in the NFL, but he has yet to climb the mountain and sit atop as a head coach in the NFL.

And we have no idea why not.

Grimm, who coached under Bill Cowher on the Pittsburgh Steelers staff, was at one time considered for the job opening there once Cowher retired. Turned down for the job, Grimm followed fellow coordinator Ken Whisenhunt to Arizona.

With the Cardinals the two quickly re-shaped the roster and led the formerly terrible team to the Super Bowl.

Still, no calls.

Grimm deserves a chance at a head coaching job. We hope he gets his shot.

The fact that Fewell is not a head coach in the NFL is somewhat insulting. As a defensive coordinator he has turned around a horrible Buffalo Bills defense and even served as interim head coach before the team hired Chan Gailey.

As defensive coordinator of the Giants, Fewell led a defense that finished turnovers created and was second in first downs allowed, as well as being No. 7 overall.

Dom Capers was a miserable head coach (49-81 career record), but history should show that he was never coaching the most talented teams in the NFL either.

As a defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, Capers is experiencing a second-birth in the NFL.

His 3-4 defense is catching on, and variations of it will be ran in San Francisco this fall under Vic Fangio.

Under Capers, the Packers' defense went from No. 21 in 2008 to No. 2 in 2009. In 2010, his defense was the backbone of the team's Super Bowl winning season, ranking No. 2 in scoring defense, No. 5 in total defense, No. 2 in interceptions, No. 2 in sacks, and No. 1 in opposing quarterback passer rating.

2010chiefs

09-23-2011, 02:13 AM

Thanks for the nice read and interesting stats. What about Jeff Fischer!

Coach

09-23-2011, 07:08 AM

I like your ideas, although I like Jeff Fisher better. Asa soon as GB brought in capers, I knew tha defense would be good.

But in reality I think Haley's chances of being fired at the end of the season are less than 20%. So this exercise is futile. Haley also just won numerous awards just last year and took this team to the playoffs. Haley has lost 3 of the best players on this team to ACL injuries and at least 2 of those that aren't his fault. This team also has made 9 turnovers through 2 games. I also think it is tough to point the turnover blame at Haley. If this team doesn'tose those 3 guys and doesn't commit 9 turnovers, they are at least 1-1 and tied for the division lead.

A win this weekend puts us in a tie with the consensus favorite to win this division. Haley's grave isn't dug yet. And although there is plenty of blame to go around for the debacle we've seen so far, I don't think Pioli will fire a guy based on what we've seen so far. If he loses control of the team and lockerroom like Zorn did in Washington, then he will be in trouble.

AussieChief

09-23-2011, 09:27 AM

Is Bill Cowher still coaching?

azchiefsfan

09-23-2011, 10:14 AM

I like your ideas, although I like Jeff Fisher better. Asa soon as GB brought in capers, I knew tha defense would be good.

But in reality I think Haley's chances of being fired at the end of the season are less than 20%. So this exercise is futile. Haley also just won numerous awards just last year and took this team to the playoffs. Haley has lost 3 of the best players on this team to ACL injuries and at least 2 of those that aren't his fault. This team also has made 9 turnovers through 2 games. I also think it is tough to point the turnover blame at Haley. If this team doesn'tose those 3 guys and doesn't commit 9 turnovers, they are at least 1-1 and tied for the division lead.

A win this weekend puts us in a tie with the consensus favorite to win this division. Haley's grave isn't dug yet. And although there is plenty of blame to go around for the debacle we've seen so far, I don't think Pioli will fire a guy based on what we've seen so far. If he loses control of the team and lockerroom like Zorn did in Washington, then he will be in trouble.

I think what has most of us seriously questioning is not the 2 losses this year-though they were the final straw. Watching a top notch offense and serviceable defense melt down the final 3 games of last season has made me, for one, question what is going on in the locker room. Our guys have not looked like they even have a playbook to coordinate from. There is no team cohesion. The turn overs and injuries appear to be a direct result of that chaos. Seriously, what head coach brings a professional team on the field like we did at the beginning of this season? I have been a big supporter of Pioli and Haley and if you go to my posts in April of last year, I predicted we would be very good last year. To me it seems, for whatever reason, Haley has lost the locker room and these guys don't want to perform for him anymore.

chiefnut

09-23-2011, 12:40 PM

Is Bill Cowher still coaching?

no but he should be our #1 choice. he said last year he may return to coaching for the right opportunity which i guess did not arise last year. he has a fondness for the Hunt family and the CHIEFS organization from his days here under Marty.:chiefs:

Chief Buck Rogers

09-23-2011, 05:09 PM

Cowher!!!!

texaschief

09-23-2011, 05:57 PM

No to Jeff Fisher because he runs a 4-3 and the Chiefs shouldn't go through 3 complete roster overhauls in 10 years.

No to Bill Cowher because that would mean getting rid of Pioli.

I'm not through with Pioli yet... just Haley.

In my mind, there's no excuse for having your team THAT unprepared for 7 straight regular season and preseason games. 7 straight losses fall on the head coach.

chief31

09-23-2011, 06:53 PM

No to Jeff Fisher because he runs a 4-3 and the Chiefs shouldn't go through 3 complete roster overhauls in 10 years.

No to Bill Cowher because that would mean getting rid of Pioli.

I'm not through with Pioli yet... just Haley.

In my mind, there's no excuse for having your team THAT unprepared for 7 straight regular season and preseason games. 7 straight losses fall on the head coach.

Well, what softens me on Haley, considering the streak, is that preseason games don't qualify for the discussion for me, and that, even having your team unprepared for a few games, could still be something that I could forgive, as a lesson learned, for a young HC.

For me, the biggest black mark on Haley's tenure has got to be the revolving OC situation.

Not that I have firmly decided that it is his fault yet, nor that it can not work out.

But it reflects terribly on Haley as a HC.

chief31

09-23-2011, 06:54 PM

even having your team unprepared for a few games, could still be something that I could forgive, as a lesson learned, for a young HC.

Well... So long as the HC does learn from it.
:lol:

texaschief

09-24-2011, 01:17 AM

Well, what softens me on Haley, considering the streak, is that preseason games don't qualify for the discussion for me, and that, even having your team unprepared for a few games, could still be something that I could forgive, as a lesson learned, for a young HC.

For me, the biggest black mark on Haley's tenure has got to be the revolving OC situation.

Not that I have firmly decided that it is his fault yet, nor that it can not work out.

But it reflects terribly on Haley as a HC.

What needs to happen on Sunday for you to make a decision, one way or another? Would a fifth dominating performance in a row by our opponent be enough or would you need a sixth, seventh, eight and so on?

I'm more inclined to throw Haley away because I thought he was a poor hire to begin with and I can't see any positives that he brings to the table that any other coach couldn't bring. You're right. The OC situation is absolutely absurd. There's nothing on his resume that should make you believe he's ready to be a head coach. I have a tough time deciding who's less qualified for their job between he and Obama. They are both truly pathetic and in way over their heads.

Bike

09-24-2011, 09:37 AM

Some guys are just better coordinators than they would be as head coaches. I believe Capers (and Haley) fall into this category.

chief31

09-24-2011, 04:09 PM

What needs to happen on Sunday for you to make a decision, one way or another? Would a fifth dominating performance in a row by our opponent be enough or would you need a sixth, seventh, eight and so on?

I'm more inclined to throw Haley away because I thought he was a poor hire to begin with and I can't see any positives that he brings to the table that any other coach couldn't bring. You're right. The OC situation is absolutely absurd. There's nothing on his resume that should make you believe he's ready to be a head coach. I have a tough time deciding who's less qualified for their job between he and Obama. They are both truly pathetic and in way over their heads.

This Sunday?

He'd have to commit a felony, or something.

I thought Haley was a poor hire too.

But, instead of sticking to my guns while the guy coaches a 2-14 team to a 10-6 division championship, I have no choice but to credit the guy, where I would definitely have credited him, had we been 1-15.

You have to bypass logic if you choose to give the HC all the blame, while also refusing to give him an equal amount of credit.

And I put a lot of effort into being fair.

It's the same with Matt Cassel.

Last year, he did well enough to get some slack for a good portion of this season.

I will allow both some time to get back on track.

figcrostic

09-24-2011, 04:25 PM

Well, what softens me on Haley, considering the streak, is that preseason games don't qualify for the discussion for me, and that, even having your team unprepared for a few games, could still be something that I could forgive, as a lesson learned, for a young HC.

For me, the biggest black mark on Haley's tenure has got to be the revolving OC situation.

Not that I have firmly decided that it is his fault yet, nor that it can not work out.

But it reflects terribly on Haley as a HC.

I agreee we should have never got rid of Chan he is a great offensive coordinator look what's he done with the Lions my god. I'm also pissed at him and Pioli for not beefing up our OL, our line has been crap since Willie Roaf left.

texaschief

09-25-2011, 12:37 AM

I agreee we should have never got rid of Chan he is a great offensive coordinator look what's he done with the Lions my god. I'm also pissed at him and Pioli for not beefing up our OL, our line has been crap since Willie Roaf left.

Gailey went to Buffalo... Cunningham went to Detroit.

AussieChiefsFan

09-25-2011, 12:43 AM

Great read, but I also have to agree with Coach on this one. Haley DID do very well last year and he (and all of the coaching staff) are having less and less to work with each week due to injuries.

AussieChief

09-25-2011, 09:51 AM

What needs to happen on Sunday for you to make a decision, one way or another? Would a fifth dominating performance in a row by our opponent be enough or would you need a sixth, seventh, eight and so on?

I'm more inclined to throw Haley away because I thought he was a poor hire to begin with and I can't see any positives that he brings to the table that any other coach couldn't bring. You're right. The OC situation is absolutely absurd. There's nothing on his resume that should make you believe he's ready to be a head coach. I have a tough time deciding who's less qualified for their job between he and Obama. They are both truly pathetic and in way over their heads.

Well, I think you could make a case for haley being the more qualified. He isn't responsible for managing the US economy. He is responsible for managing the Chiefs economy. So yeah, I wouldn't know who is more qualified.